30M1 stock markings

[Patrick Chadwick]

As the stock on my carbine is now warped to the point of uselessness, I bought another. This is from Saginaw, marked RSG in the sling well.
Attachment 45733

The right sight bears GSA in a rectangular cartouche. Or is it CSA?
Attachment 45732

I only have the Riesch book, which does not include this marking. Can anyone identify it?

The butt is clearly marked with AB-SEC.
Attachment 45731

Can anyone interpret AB-SEC? Or the unclear white stencil at top left?

Finally, top and bottom of the neck there are hand-painted markings
Attachment 45729 Attachment 45730

Any help in identifying these markings would be much appreciated. My normal attitude to painted-on markings is: remove them. In this case, however, I am being a little more cautious - maybe they really do tell us something of its history?

So before I get out the paint stripper - any opinions?

Information

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[JOHN42768]

Hi, You are correct that the RSG is Saginaw. The next mark is C-SAA in a rectangle ( it is not showing, but there are two A's) which is a rebuild marking for San Antonio Arsenal. The painted I believe to be rack numbers, company or group. Your call , but part of it's history which may never be known. John

[Patrick Chadwick]

The next mark is C-SAA in a rectangle ( it is not showing, but there are two A's) which is a rebuild marking for San Antonio Arsenal.

Thanks, that's a great step forward.

[INLAND44]

Stock markings are stamped into the wood. Painted marks like the ones you have are generally on it when it comes in from some other country. If it were mine I would remove them.

[USGI]

To me, it's interesting that the recoil plate area has been milled off - haven't seen that before. - Bob

[Patrick Chadwick]

recoil plate area has been milled off

Likely explanation: the wood was damaged in this area, and so it was milled off to make a clean cut to glue on a repair piece (which would then require hand shaping) and whoever it was never got around to completing the job.

Since it was the only stock out of half a dozen or so on offer that was not the later "fat boy"-style M2 stock, I bought it cheaply as being more appropriate to an otherwise correct 1943 barrelled system. I can manage such a repair myself, and for such things have more time than money, plus being impatient to get my carbine fixed.

[Bruce McAskill]

Are there any other letters or numbers in the sling well? If not it very well could be a Saginaw Grand Rapids stock. I would remove the paint and use a chemical stripper to remove it and help clean the stock. It can be surprising what you can find under it and it also can help raise any leftover acceptance stamps.